Table construction



Nov. 7, 1939. M. w. FICHMAN TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 17, 1956 Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNi'i'hlld ATENT 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a table construction and it particularly relates to an expansible table construction. In the usual small apartment or confined living quarters in large 5 cities, it is necessary to employ tables which may be collapsed to occupy a relatively small area when not in use and extended to occupy a relatively large area upon usage.

The present invention is particularly directed to a table of this type and specifically to a table in which there is provided a central table portion with laterally swinging leaves adapted to be extended during usage of the table to accommodate an additional number of persons.

Another object is to provide an improved expansible table construction of the character described in which the legs may be readily expanded together with the leaves when said leaves are extended, resulting in a greater comfort to those seated in the middle portions of the table and also assuring firmer support of the entire expanded table construction.

Other objects will be obvious or will appear during the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing the objects according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the leg structure of the table is attached to the ends of two swinging bar members, which are pivotally connected by hinge structures to the ends of a bar across the ends of the middle leaf of the table.

When the table is collapsed the two legs will be folded inwardly toward opposite leaves from those which they support when the table is extended.

When the table is extended these legs may be swung out on their cross beam members with assurance that there will be a cross beam structure extending across the entire width of the table and that the legs be most satisfactorily positioned at the corners of the table for maximum support.

When the table is collapsed the sides of the cross braces will be against each other, while when it is extended the ends of such cross braces will be abutting each other affording maximum support to the side or" the table at all times.

In the drawing Fig. l is a top perspective view of the table with a portion of the table being broken away to show the leg structure to somewhat better advantage;

Fig. 2 is a top perspective view of the table structure of Fig. l expanded, with a portion of the table top and extended leaves being broken away to show the swinging leg structure in expanded position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hinge structure connecting the swinging legs, indicating the abutment of the ends of the cross 5 brace members when the table is extended; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view upon the line d l of Fig. 3 showing the front of the hinge structure.

Referring to Fig. 1, the table is provided with 10 a top structure 2 and with the side swinging leaves l and 3. The main table structure 2 is supported on the cross brace 5 having the dowels 5 which project into the bottom of the center leaf 2. To the ends of the cross brace 5 are 15 connected the swinging leg structures l and 6 by the hinge structures l and 8, which are shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4.

As indicated best in Figs. 1 and 2, the swinging legs each are provided with a brace member 9, 20 which is connected at ill to the leg members H, the leg members i l having an overlap ll. so that they may fit over the end and extend across the width of the cross brace 5 when collapsed, as best shown in Fig. 2.

When the cross braces 9 are extended, as best shown in Fig. 3, the metallic facings l3 and M take up the contact and prevent splintering or breaking of the ends of the braces 5 and 9 at their abutting portions.

The hinges l and 8 are provided with a pivot rod Hi, to which is connected the sockets it, attached by the screws E8 to the wooden structure of the cross braces 5 and 9. The hinges I! as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are flat ordinary hinges. 35 By making the hinges of Figs. 3 and 4 of socket type to receive the ends of beams 5 and 9 a much better support is obtained and a much more durable and rigid construction is achieved. This also relieves the strain upon the hinge because 40 of the large bearing surface of the socket.

In operation the table may be readily changed from the form shown in Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 2 by swinging out the leg structure t and 6. When so extended the abutment at is as shown at Fig. 45 and the combined cross brace structure 5 and 9, together with the new positioning of the legs H must adequately support the extended leaves I and 2 and at the same time remove the legs from a position where they would interfere with 50 the legs of a person sitting at the sides of the table.

It is thus apparent that there is here provided an expansible table construction particularly adapted for utilization in households of confined 55 area, which may most conveniently be either collapsed or extended with assurance of maximum sup-port for the table in either position and with assurance of maximum comfort for the persons placed at the table either when the table is collapsed or when it is extended.

The invention however is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction or arrangement of parts, or to any particular method of operation or manner of use, or to any of the various details thereof, herein shown and described, as the same may be modified in various particulars or may be applied in many varied ways Without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The practical embodiments herein illustrated are described merely as showing some of the various features entering into the application of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An expandable top table construction comprising a central elongated fixed leaf, two side leaves, each hingedy connected to the sides of said central leaf, a cross bar member extended along the bottom and parallel to the ends of said central leaf and permanently connected to the bottom of said central. le- ,iour swingingbeam members of the same length, width and height as said first mentioned beam member, each hingedly connected to one end of said first mentioned beam members and being adapted to be swung out to abut the ends of said beam members or to be swung in to lie against the side of said beam members, and four legs, one connected to the end of each of said. swinging beam members, said legs being connected to the ends of said swinging beam members and extending ther beyond to overlie the ends of said fixed beam member when the side leaves are down and said beam members are lying side to side, and leg members being swung out to support said folding leaves in horizontal position with said. legs under the outside corners of said leaves when the table is expanded.

2. An expandable table construction adapted for use in apartments, to be extended to receive a large number of people or to be collapsed to receive a small number of people, said table comprising a central fixed elongated table member and two swinging leaf members horizontally connected to each side of said table member, and also comprising central support beam members fixedly connected parallelly to the underside of said table member and outside support beam members swingingly connected to the ends of said fixed support member, and legs on the ends of said swinging members, said legs being positioned at the inside ends of said fixed beam members when the table is collapsed or an equal distance from the opposite ends of said support member when the table is expanded, the adjacent ends of said beam members being capped and pivot connections between said caps.

3. An expandable table construction comprising a central table element having transverse beam members secured to the bottom of said central table element, two swinging leaves attached to said central table element and four swinging legs respectively permanently hingedly attached to the ends of said transverse beam members, said legs being carried by horizontal members, whereby they may be swung inwardly toward the opposite leaves when the table is closed and outwardly under the corners of their own loaves when the table is expanded, said horizontal members when the table is collapsed lying against the opposite sides of said transverse beam members.

4. An expandable table construction comprising a central fixed table element and four legs, each comprising a vertical leg member and a swingable beam member carrying said leg member attached to the lower end portions of said central table element, and a pair of leaves horizontally attached to the sides of said central table element, said legs being adapted to be swung out to fit under the corners of said leaves when the table is extended, each of said swingable beam members carrying a cap completely enclosing the end of the beam member away from said leg member, said cap carrying a hinge mount at the point of attachment to the central table element.

MORRIS W. FICHMAN. 

